Sam Fender just wrapped up his three-night hometown takeover at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Suffice to say, it was huge.
Massive sound, big emotions, and a couple of surprise onstage guests who sent the crowd into meltdown.
Night three (June 15) of the sold-out homecoming run saw Fender pulling deep from the arsenal—‘The Borders’, ‘Howdon Aldi Death Queue’, and ‘Tyrants’ all hit early. But it was halfway through the set when things really got interesting.
During ‘Rein Me In’, Fender brought out Olivia Dean—who’s been opening for him on this tour—for a low-lit, soul-soaked duet that hit hard enough to hush the stadium. Dean’s return felt like a moment. It was understated yet bulletproof. The two had already shared the stage earlier in the week, but this time it landed with more weight—less novelty, more chemistry.
Then came the wild card: CMAT– Fender’s fellow support act and Irish chaos merchant—joined him during the encore for a loaded version of ‘Something Heavy’, alongside Fender’s brother Liam and fiddle player Niles Krieger. It was joyful, messy, and exactly the kind of end-of-tour energy that makes these gigs feel like more than just another show.
Elsewhere, there was a Thin Lizzy cover (‘The Boys Are Back in Town’), featuring Fender’s old guitar teacher Phil Martin, because of course there was. And if you weren’t already crying, he brought on the Easington Colliery Brass Band for ‘Remember My Name’—a local nod that felt more like a love letter to where he came from than a gimmick.
Fender’s been putting out some of the biggest, most emotionally tuned-in shows of the summer so far. These three Newcastle nights weren’t just gigs—they were communal therapy with riffs. If you missed them, you’ve still got Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast, and Electric Picnic later this summer. But good luck finding another night with that many brass players and that much heart.
Tickets are still kicking around if you’re quick. And you should be.
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